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Gabbi Grey: Writing to a Trope (Contest)
Sunday, April 6th, 2025

I love writing.  That’s probably obvious given I’m here and sharing my words with you.  But sometimes, I just love writing even more.  Today is one of those days!

I had two things come together in a short period of time last year.  First, a cover designer I knew was having a sale.  I saw the cover for Ginger in the City and knew I had to grab it.  Gingers are a favorite of mine (and are disproportionately represented in my writing — for the record).

Around the same time, I agreed to be in a special promotion for new and exclusive MM stories to be given away on BookFunnel.  I love these promotions because we’re able to offer readers something brand new.  With 7 authors, that’s a lot of new words!  The trope was workplace.

Huh?

There’s a category for that, though, and it’s a thing.  One of the first romances I wrote was a workplace story.  Catch a Tiger by the Tail takes place during the filming of a movie.  A production assistant and a movie star fall in love and make happily ever after. Thomas and Peter have been a favorite couple of mine, and they’ve popped back up in an informal series I have that, in my mind, is entitled Vancouver Film World.  Now, many of those stories rest with my publisher and were written for other series (One Scoop or Two, Passport to Pleasure, Spring Fling and other Things, and more).  What ties the books together — in my mind, at least — is that they all take place around the film industry.  Mostly set in Vancouver, British Columbia, which is, in some ways, a Hollywood of the North.

Okay…so I had to write a short story about a workplace.  I had a cover.

I needed, you know, a plot.

So I ventured to ask Plot Whisperer.

We tossed some ideas back and forth — including extensive discussions of my theatre training (MA in Theatre from the University of Toronto).  Plot Whisperer had, I believe, one of her most inspired plots yet.

I scurried off to write the story.

And had to sit on it for a while as the promo was pushed back a couple of times.

Still, I bided my time. I knew I had something…special.

We held the promo in February, and I was able to finally share the story with an audience.  BookFunnel doesn’t provide a mechanism for reviews though, so I don’t actually know what readers think.

I will now as the book is out in the world!

I adore Joel and Adrian.  I loved adding in cameos from other characters (including Peter from Catch a Tiger by the Tail).  This book was FUN.  Just FUN. I had fun writing it, my characters had fun being in it, and I hope readers have fun reading it.

And so, it goes.  I have more books in that informal series coming up.  I have more stories to tell.  I have more fun adventures to share! In fact, I have to write another short story next month.  And I have a novel I need to edit set in that world as well.

So many words, so little time.

Now it’s your turn!

I’m wondering if you can think of a workplace romance that you loved. Book, movie, or television series! Or what workplace would you love to see featured? Careful — I might just use your idea! Especially because I’m writing a novella later this year, and I need a setting for it.  For today, I want to give out a copy of Ginger in the City to one lucky commenter.  Random will choose!  Good luck!

Ginger in the City

Adrian

Stage managing the play After Romeo and Juliet is my chance for a big break. Academy Award-winning actor Peter Erickson is making his directing debut. Sexy-as-hell Cole Hamilton is starring as Paris. My problem? The actor playing Cole’s love interest Benvolio is a dud whose acting evokes a dead fish. So he’s out as soon as I can line up the adorable ginger who I’ve been crushing on for years. He’ll be perfect, but convincing him to put himself out there will be a challenge. I’ve put my reputation on the line for this play. Can I persuade Joel, or will I be left without a believable leading man?

Joel

Why I chose acting as a profession is truly beyond me. I’m shy. Like, really shy. Sometimes, though, magic happens. Especially when Adrian coaches me. This new play? He seems to think I can be a leading man opposite Cole Hamilton in a gay romantic tragedy. The problem? I’ve never kissed a man. So I ask Adrian to teach me. And he does. But can I move from kissing the sweetest guy to intimidatingly sexy and famous Cole? More importantly, how will my heart handle never kissing Adrian again once the curtain comes down on the show?

Ginger in the City is a 15k short story about taking risks, being brave, and grasping for what you’ve always wanted, starring a very potty-mouthed stage manager and the first actor he’d rather coach offstage.

Links:
Amazon US:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F2GKFZ46
Universal Book Link:  https://books2read.com/GingerCity
KOBO:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/ginger-in-the-city
Apple Books:  https://books.apple.com/us/book/ginger-in-the-city/id6743769141
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1735639
Add it to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230320523-ginger-in-the-city

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Personal links:
Website: https://gabbigrey.com/
Newsletter sign-up:  https://sendfox.com/gabbigrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey
Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/Gabbi-Grey/e/B07SJVFX1M
Audible Profile:  https://www.audible.com/author/Gabbi-Grey/B07SJVFX1M
Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/AuthorGabbiGrey

3 comments to “Gabbi Grey: Writing to a Trope (Contest)”

  1. Debra
    Comment
    1
    · April 6th, 2025 at 6:19 am · Link

    I enjoyed workplace romance. One does come to mind – Rule Breaker by Lily Morton



  2. BN
    Comment
    2
    · April 6th, 2025 at 5:21 pm · Link

    no fav



  3. Anna Taylor Sweringen
    Comment
    3
    · April 6th, 2025 at 8:39 pm · Link

    Movie: the apartment. I just love classic Billy Wilder movies in general. TV series: Madmen.



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